Child Benefits in Ukraine 2026: How State Support for Families Will Change
On November 5, 2025, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the second reading and as a whole draft law No. 13532, which significantly changes the approach to supporting families with children. 294 Members of Parliament voted for this document this is a consolidated position on the importance of the issue of birth rates and social protection. For the first time in many years, the state is significantly increasing the amounts of key payments and expanding the list of programs for families.
From January 1, 2026, new rules and social assistance amounts come into effect:
- 50,000 UAH one-time assistance at the birth of a child. This payment applies to both the first and every subsequent child.
- 7,000 UAH per month childcare allowance until the child turns 1 year old. For a child with a disability 10,500 UAH per month (coefficient 1.5).
- 8,000 UAH per month “eYasla” program for childcare from 1 to 3 years old. For children with disabilities 12,000 UAH per month.
- 8,000 UAH per month “eSadok” program for childcare from 4 to 6 years old if there is no place in municipal kindergartens (will be effective from 2028).
- 7,000 UAH maternity allowance for women who are not officially employed (uninsured persons).
- “Baby package” one-time in-kind assistance or cash compensation of its value (can be received from the 36th week of pregnancy, at parents’ choice).
- 5,000 UAH one-time “school package” allowance for first grade students.
Why the State Is Implementing the Changes
The official motivation is stated in the Verkhovna Rada’s release:
“The purpose of the initiative is to create conditions for increasing the birth rate, combining parenthood with professional employment by supporting families in the prenatal, postnatal, and child care period after birth.”
In May 2025, the Ministry of Social Policy presented this project as a long-awaited response to numerous appeals from parents and the expert community. Discussions continued for two years, petitions were registered, and consultations with the public were held.
How the Assistance Mechanism Will Change
- Payments apply to all children born from 2026. If as of January 1, 2026, the child is not yet one year old, parents will continue to receive the current 860 UAH/month and additionally 7,000 UAH/month until the child turns one.
- “Baby package” will be provided in-kind or as cash compensation for the first time, the choice is available.
- The “eYasla” and “eSadok” programs are aimed at supporting families where both parents work or study, and at stimulating the development of children at an early age. The “eSadok” program will start from 2028.
- Children with disabilities will receive increased payments (coefficient 1.5) within each of the programs.
What Problems the Previous System Had
Until 2026, the birth allowance was 41,280 UAH, of which 10,320 UAH was paid immediately, and the rest in equal installments over three years (860 UAH/month).
This amount remained almost unchanged for many years and, according to experts, did not cover even the basic needs of a family in the first months after the child’s birth.
Public pressure and numerous appeals to the authorities were caused by the fact that the payment of 860 UAH per month is a humiliation for many families. This amount was not enough even for a weekly set of baby supplies. As noted in the Rada: “How many times I have raised this issue in the Rada. How many times I have told the MPs about this, some deputies even laughed and said you just need to buy cheap diapers and everything will be okay then.”
Limitations and Additional Details
- Some programs for example, “eSadok” will start not immediately, but from 2028, and the specific implementation conditions will be further refined by additional regulations.
- Payments and mechanisms for providing them will be regulated by separate procedures to be developed by the Ministry of Social Policy.
- There is no detailed information on the synchronization of new state programs with possible municipal or regional supplements local authorities may introduce additional support at their own discretion.
What Changes for Families
The new law is not just a formal increase in amounts, but an attempt to make the social support system more flexible and targeted.
Expanding the list of programs, the possibility of choosing the form of assistance, increased payments for children with disabilities all of this is intended to become a real step toward increasing the birth rate, social protection, and a decent start for newborns and their parents.
A significant increase in benefits and the introduction of new support programs is a response to years of criticism of the current system and the demands of society. For real impact, it is important not only to approve new amounts, but also to ensure clear and transparent payment mechanisms, information accessibility for every family, as well as systematic monitoring of the implementation of these decisions at the local level.
All this will become a real indicator whether the reform can turn social support into a real factor of demographic and economic stability for Ukraine.
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